Headlight



March 24, 1931. R. Moc. HALBACH HEADLIGHT Filed Maron 29, 1929 2 :engem-sheet'` ,I ,I. I I Iv I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I .I I I I. I I I m INVENTOR Rober? Mc'u [Zay /Va/bac/z ATTORNEY WITNESSES Patented Mar. 24, 1931 lll-TED STT raar HEADLIGI-IT Application filed March 29, 1929. Serial No. 351,039.

This invention relates to headlights, and has particular reference to a headlight which is principally designed for use on road vehicles.

.a Primarily, the invention comprehends a headlight which functions to illuminate the roadway in advance of the vehicle Without subjecting the eyes of the drivers of approaching vehicles or pedestrians to a blinding glare.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a headlight equipped with a reflector which is so constructed as to reflect and diffuse the light rays from a source of illumination and flood the roadway `without subjecting the eyes of the .drivers of approaching vehicles or pedestrians to a direct reflection of the source of illumination.

More specilically, the invention comprehends a reflector, the lower portion of which is a plane or flat surface and the upper portion of which is on a curve which is the segment of a parabola whereby the parabolic upper section serves to direct a portion of the light rays reflected in a pla-ne substantially parallel with the roadway while the lower flat surface disposed at an inclination radiates the light rays therefrom and floods the roadway directly in advance of the vehicle.

The invention furthermore comprehends in a headlight for road vehicles, a casing having a light outlet opening with a lamp mounted in the upper portion of the casing and disposed out of direct alignment with the area of the light outlet opening, together with a reflector element, the reflecting .surface of which is inclined generally upwardly and rearwardly and in which said surface is transversely flat throughout its entire length and includes a lower portion which is also flat -1f`l" longitudinally and an upper portion which is parabolically curved longitudinally.

The invention furthermore aims to provide a reflector element for a headlight, the reflecting surface of which is flat transversely throughout its entire length and which inclu-des adjacent portions, one of which is flat longitudinally and the other of which is paraholically curved longitudinally.

is a further feature, the invention comprefl'" hends a. headlight including a reflector which is relatively adjustable with respect to the source of illumination and which further includes enter-ieri lisposed means'for effecting the angular adjustments and for locking the reflector .in its angularly adjusted positions.

Other ob'diccts reside in the comparative simplicity of construction of the headlight, the economy w which it may be produced and the general Ancieinzy derived therefrom.v

With the ahovc recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which there is exhibited several examples or embodiments of the invention, while the claim denes the actual scope of the same.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a headlight constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line indicated at 2 2 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal `sectional view of a slightly modified adaptation of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of the reflector element removed from the headlight casing.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, and particularly to the form of thev invention illustrated in Figures l and 2, the Y headlight includes a casing designated generally by the reference character A, which casing comprises a rear wall 5,Y a top wall 6, a bottom wall 7, sidewalls 8 and a horizontal partition 9 spaced slightly below and parallel tothe top wall 6. The partition 9 is provided f at its forward edge with a depending flange l having an inwardly ofl'set lower terminal ll. The casing further includes a removable cover l2 for the open front end, which cover is provided with a window opening l?) of slightly lesser area than the lower reflector compartment le of the casing. rlhe cover 12 is preferably provided with a marginal flange l which telescopically fits over the forward end of the casing walls and which may be secured in place in any suitable manner. A transparent panel 16 of glass or its equivalent is arranged directly in rear of the cover 12 to completely seal the window opening: 13 against the entrance of dust, dirt, moisture or other foreign mattei'. A source of illumination, such as one or more electric lamps B, is supported in the upper portion ot the retlector compartment la, preferably by a socket C, which extends into the space between the partition 9 and the upper wall 6. ln practice, the lamp or lamps wi l be arranged so that their filaments will be above tl e lower edge oiz the window opening 13 whereby said iilaments will not be directly visible through the window opening.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the casing A having the rear wall 5, upper wall 6, lower wall T and side walls 8, is not provided with the horizontal partition 9 but is formed with transversely disposed forwardly and downwardly inclined supporting` strip 1'?, the upper edge of which is attached to the under side ot the upper wall 6 and the low r edge of which terminates approximately in li e with the upper edge ot the window opening 13 in the cover 12. In this instance, the source of illumination or electric lamp B is carried by a lamp socket C which is supported by the strip 17.

The reflecting element D, which is used in either form of casing, is preferably constructed ot sheet metal and provided with a reflecting surface which is flat transversely throughout its entire length, that is, from its lower edge E to its upper edge l.- The refleeting surface is divided into'adjacent portions 18 and 19, the former being preferably disposed uppermost and parabolically curved longitudinally while the latter is disposed below the former portion and is flat longitudinally. The reflector element D is inclined generally in an upward and rearward direction and is supported within the reflector compartment 11i of the casing so as to permit of angular adjustments thereof or changes in its inclination for the purpose ot obtaining the desired result. As illustrated, the reflector element carries medially of its opposite side edges, rearwardly projecting ears 20, one of which has extended therethrough a pivot 21 carried by a side wall of the casing and the other of which has secured thereto an outwardly projecting trunnion 22 which extends through an opening in the' other side wall. The trunnion 22 is threaded to receive a binding or thumb nut 23 and its outer end carries a knurled head 24 which is keyed thereto. Under this construction and arrangement, it is obvious that the angular adjustment vfor the reflector element D may be effected from the exterior of the casing by iirst loosening the thumb nut 23 and employing-the lniurled head 24 as a means for changing the angularity of the reflector and then tightening the thumb nut to retain the same in adjusted position. lt will also be observed that the removal of the cover 12 permits oit ready access to the interior for the purpose ot changing the lamps B or for gaining access to the wiring G which leads to the lamp sockets.

As indicated in Figure 1, the light rays from the lamp which are reliected by the curvet surface 18 ot the reflector element are projected substantiallyY horizontal or parallel to the road surface while the light rays which are retlected by the iiat surface 19 are diffused at an angle generally downward to flood the road surface immediately in advance ot the vehicle. 1t will, oi'f course, be understood that in addition the casing A will be supported insuch a manner as to permit of proper tilting or" the same to direct the 'iight for proper illumination of the roadway in advance of thevehicle.

lVh-at is claimed is:

lnga headlight, a casing having a light outlet opening in its iront wall with a partition extending rearwardly Jfrom the front wal above the top ot the light outlet opening, a lamp mounted in the partition, and a. reflector within said casing at the rear of the lamp and the light outlet opening and below the lamp, said reflectorhaving a reiiecting surface tat transversely throughout its entire length and including upper and lower portions, the lower portion being longitudiilat and the upper portion being abolically curved longitudinally, the revi-ecto-r being` pivoted on a horizontal axis to permit of its adjustment relatively to the lamp and the outlet opening, the movement of the re'liector being limited by engagement wit i the casing.

ROBERT MCC. HALBACH.

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